Coop Floor -- WHAT SIZE OF MESH WORKS BEST?

[Count Von Chickula]

I'm building a new (tractor) coop that will have a mesh floor. Anyone know of a good size of mesh for hen's feet? I know if I go too small the cr-p tends to ball up on the mesh, but too large and hens get their nails caught in them. What's your experience?

Any suggestions?

thanks,

 

[Anny]

I personally don't like to put mesh on the flooring, it can hurt their feet and lead to Bumble foot. I know I personally wouldn't want to have to walk on wire flooring my whole life so why make the chickens?

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
If I were you, I would use the wire for protection, but I'd put a very thin, light-weight wooden panel over it for the chickens to walk on.

 

[chookchick]

I vote for no mesh too. Chickens love to scratch--that's what they do! Keep them happy and healthy and give them some litter to catch the poo and scratch around in, or fresh grass.

 

[patandchickens]

There is NO mesh size that will allow all or nearly all poo thru, while being small enough not to pose a problem for chickens walking on it. If you have a mesh floor you will have to hose or vigorously scrape it on a regular basis to get the larger glops of poo to go through.

Given the work involved and the fact that except in super-hot areas a solid floor is definitely better for the chickens, and the fact that you will have to put a solid floor in ANYhow once the temperatures dip in the fall, why not just build a solid floor in the first place?

It is really not at ALL difficult to put a little shavings or dried grass in there and clean it out regularly. Use a dustpan or such, swipe swipe swipe, all gone

Pat

 

[purr]

isn't the point of a tractor to be able to move the chickens all around the yard so they fertilize it.how about a solid floor in the coop part which can be closed up at night to avoid predation but no floor in the run part. Does this make sense? I hope so. of course this wouldn't work if you have digging dogs out during the day. My chickens free range so maybe I'm totally wrong about this